Summary: Christians are constantly tempted to live by the standard of the world. God repeatedly reminds us that the answer to this call is live in Holiness.

The longer I live and the more I read and hear, the more concerned Ii have become regarding Christians living according to the sinful nature. This is variously called, living according to the desires of the flesh, carnal nature and indicates an incomplete divorce from the call of the world from the former way of life.

The concern is two-fold: God pronouncement- “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God” and our prevalence- the increasing posture of fence-sitting done by God’s redeemed people. Here are three example of behavior that falls under the “prevalence” caption and under the condemnation of the pronouncement factor.

My wife was recently speaking to a well-respected man in our brotherhood of faith. He told her how she could use her cell phone without paying any charges. He was not a crook, but a Christian. Apparently he made an arbitrary distinction between cheating an individual and a large company.

George Gallup was addressing a national seminar of Southern Baptist leaders. He said, “We find very little difference in ethical behaviour between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously. The levels of lying, cheating and stealing are remarkably similar in both groups.”

A preacher of the gospel was invited to dinner at the home of a very wealthy man in Texas. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.

Pointing to the oil well punctuating the landscape, he boasted, “Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as I can see, its all mine.” Looking in the opposite direction at the sprawling fields of grain, he said, “That’s all mine ,” Turning to the east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, “They’re all mine.” Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, “That’s all mine too.”

He paused, expecting the minister to compliment him on his great success. The preacher, however, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, “How much do you have in that direction? “The man hung his head and confessed, “I never thought of that dimension.”

As God’s children, we need to realize all the above actions are contrary to His will and fall under his condemnation. People who live according to the world’s standards would not agree with us, but we are, according to Jesus, “IN the world but not OF the world.” Jesus expect a life of holiness form his holy ones.

HOLINESS IS HOW WE LIVE SPIRITUALLY , DAILY.

Defined, this would literally be “set apart “or “different”. Perhaps this is demonstrated in the building of an altar of stones upon which is offered a sacrifice to God. It is intentionally separated from the earth.

The first two verses of the practical portion of the book of Romans lays it out for us. It says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”- Romans 12